Another king of Babylon was Darius the Mede. Darius saw that Daniel was special. He put Daniel in charge of the most important men in the land. These men were jealous of Daniel and wanted to get rid of him. They knew that Daniel prayed to Jehovah three times every day, so they told Darius: ‘O king, there should be a law that everyone should pray to you alone. Anyone who disobeys the law should be thrown into a pit full of lions.’ Darius liked the idea, and he signed the law.

As soon as Daniel heard about the new law, he went to his house. In front of an open window, he got down on his knees and prayed to Jehovah. The jealous men burst into his house and caught him praying. They ran to Darius and said: ‘Daniel is disobeying you. He prays to his God three times every day.’ Darius liked Daniel and didn’t want him to die. All day long he tried to think of a way to save Daniel. But not even the king could change a law that he had already signed. He had to order his men to throw Daniel into the pit of ferocious lions.

That night, Darius was so worried about Daniel that he could not sleep. In the morning, he ran to the pit and called to Daniel: ‘Did your God save you?’

Darius heard a voice. It was Daniel! He called to Darius: ‘Jehovah’s angel shut the lions’ mouths. They did not hurt me at all.’ Darius was so happy! He ordered that Daniel be lifted out of the pit. Daniel did not have a scratch on him. Then the king commanded: ‘Throw the men who accused Daniel into the pit.’ When those men were thrown into the pit, the lions devoured them.

Darius sent out this order to his people: ‘Everyone must fear Daniel’s God. He rescued Daniel from the lions.’

Do you pray to Jehovah every day, just like Daniel?

Esther was a Jewish girl who lived in the Persian city of Shushan. Many years before, her family had been taken from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. She was raised by her cousin Mordecai, a servant of King Ahasuerus of Persia.

King Ahasuerus wanted a new queen. His servants brought him the most beautiful women in the land, including Esther. Out of all the women, the king chose Esther to be queen. Mordecai told Esther not to reveal that she was Jewish.

A proud man named Haman was head of all the princes. He wanted everyone to bow down to him. Mordecai refused to do so, and Haman was so angry that he wanted to kill him. When Haman found out that Mordecai was a Jew, he formed a plan to kill all the Jews in the land. He told the king: ‘The Jews are dangerous; you need to get rid of them.’ Ahasuerus said: ‘Do whatever you need to do,’ and gave him the power to make a law. Haman made a law that told the people to kill all the Jews on the 13th day of the month of Adar. Jehovah was watching.

Esther didn’t know about the law. So Mordecai sent her a copy of it and told her: ‘Go and talk to the king.’ Esther said: ‘Anyone who goes to the king without being invited will be killed. The king has not invited me for 30 days! But I will go. If he holds out his scepter, I will live. If he doesn’t, I will die.’

Esther went to the king’s courtyard. When the king saw her, he held out his scepter. She went to him, and he asked: ‘What can I do for you, Esther?’ She said: ‘I want to invite you and Haman to a feast.’ At the feast, Esther invited them to a second feast. During the second feast, the king again asked: ‘What can I do for you?’ She said: ‘Someone is going to kill me and my people. Please save us.’ The king asked: ‘Who wants to kill you?’ She said: ‘This bad man Haman.’ Ahasuerus was so angry that he had Haman killed right away.

But nobody could cancel Haman’s law, not even the king. So the king made Mordecai head of the princes and gave him the power to make a new law. Mordecai made a law that allowed the Jews to defend themselves when they were attacked. On the 13th day of Adar, the Jews defeated their enemies. From then on, they celebrated this victory every year.